What would drive you to give back one of the food world’s biggest accolades? Well for one French restaurant it came down to something very simple – money.

Le France – a hotel restaurant that sits in the town of Montceau-les-Mines in Burgundy says that it no longer wants its Michelin star because it can’t afford to maintain it.

Chef Jérôme Brochot has voluntarily returned his Michelin star as a result of what he says is declining business in the small town, which has a population of 20,000, and an unemployment rate of 20 percent.

The New York Times reports that in an effort to cut down on costs Brochot reduced his kitchen staff from six to three. This unfortunately means a smaller team with which to execute the intricate dishes worthy of a Michelin star. The venue’s menu has also been revamped with the economy in mind – moving from a $130 prix-fixe to a more inexpensive menu, and turning towards less expensive ingredients in meals.

The return of the star is an unfortunate move but an essential one for Le France, which is a modest one-star restaurant that relied largely on its Michelin recognition to lure in passersby. “The economic situation here in the ex-mining basin is a disaster,” Chef Brochot explained to Michelin, “What I’m doing today, I’m not doing lightly, but because I have no other choice.”